Watch: Luis Enrique Left Frustrated After Pacho’s Late Red Card in PSG’s Narrow Win Over Bayern
Tensions ran high as Paris Saint-Germain edged past Bayern Munich with a narrow 1-0 victory in the quarterfinals of the FIFA Club World Cup, but the win was overshadowed by a controversial moment late in the match.
PSG manager Luis Enrique was visibly frustrated after defender Willian Pacho received an unimpressive red card in the dying minutes of the game. The sending-off came at a crucial point as Bayern pushed for a late equalizer, and though PSG held on to secure the win, the dismissal left Enrique visibly annoyed on the touchline.
A Soft Dismissal That Left PSG Fuming
With PSG leading thanks to a first-half strike from Kylian Mbappé, the French champions looked set to close out the game with solid defending. But as the clock ticked toward full time, Pacho became involved in a seemingly minor clash near the halfway line.
Much to the disbelief of the PSG bench and fans, the referee reached straight for the red card, leaving the Parisians a man down for the final moments of the high-stakes clash.
Cameras quickly cut to Luis Enrique, whose reaction said it all — shaking his head in frustration and exchanging words with his coaching staff, clearly unhappy with the referee’s decision.
Luis Enrique’s Post-Match Comments
Speaking after the match, Luis Enrique did not hide his displeasure:
“I don’t like to speak about referees, but today it’s impossible to ignore. It was a tough game, Bayern are a great team, but I feel the red card was unnecessary. It could have cost us the match,” he said.
Despite the setback, PSG held firm to seal their place in the semifinals, where they will face either Real Madrid or Juventus, depending on the outcome of their quarterfinal tie.
PSG’s Eyes on the Prize
While the win keeps PSG’s hopes of lifting the FIFA Club World Cup alive, Pacho’s suspension means Enrique may have to reshuffle his defense in the next round — an unwelcome complication for a side chasing their first Club World Cup title.